The Curious Mind: 5 Lessons from 26 Years in the Game
January 20, 2026
You are a smart curious person, short on time and surrounded by noise.
The Curious Mind tries to offer the best signal to noise ratio across markets, technology and the good life. We hope to even surprise and inspire you with new beautiful ideas.
If you missed last week’s discussions: The Lawrence Protocol: Mastering the Era of Radical Uncertainty and Paper Promises, Physical Power: Engineering Your Advantage in the 2026 Reset
Believe it or not, that “♡ Like” button is a big deal, it serves as a proxy to new visitors of this publication’s value, plus a lot of blood and sweat goes into producing it by hand every week. I reckon I spend over 2 hours writing it and 3-4 hours researching and reading to prepare.
I have spent 26 years in the belly of the beast. On paper, I was winning. In reality, I was on a treadmill.
I wore my “busy” schedule like a badge of honour, but it was a mask for stagnation. I was reacting to pings, hunting mice, and giving my best hours to everyone but myself. I was successful, but I was a prisoner to the noise.
It took me two decades to realise that the world I was living in was a construct. I didn’t need a better “hack.” I needed to unplug. I
If you are serious, but feel like you’re spinning your wheels, you don’t need another “tip.” You need an override.
Here are the 5 laws I used to reclaim my life.
1. The Law of the Lion (Strategy)
Stop hunting mice. You are a predator; act like it. Most people spend 80% of their life on things that deliver 20% of the results. This isn’t productivity, it’s a sign of failure.
The Antelope Rule: Only do the 2-3 things that move the needle 10x. If it’s not a “big fucking antelope,” let it walk.
The Selfish Appointment: You wouldn’t stand up a billion-dollar client. Stop standing up yourself. Your first hour is sacred. Date yourself before you date the world.
Vaporize the Fluff: 80% of your to do list is garbage. Outsource the mundane, say “No” until it hurts, and close the doors that don’t lead to the throne.
2. The Filter of Forever (Knowledge)
Most information is “Junk Food.” It’s ephemeral, it expires by next Tuesday. Stop reading for “now” and start reading for “forever.”
The 10 Year Test: If the knowledge won’t be relevant in a decade, stop consuming it. Trade news and “viral” threads for history, mental models, and biographies.
Signal vs. Noise: More data rarely leads to better decisions; it just leads to more “confident” mistakes. Seek the signal. Sit with the silence until it speaks.
Focus as Time Dilation: Presence allows you to slow down time. When you are 100% focused, the world moves in slow motion. That is where you win the game.
3. The Architecture of Truth (Mindset)
“There is no spoon.” The market isn’t broken, and the system isn’t rigged. Your lens is just dirty.
Update or Die: Reality doesn’t owe you an apology. If your portfolio isn’t moving, your model is the problem. Update the code or remain a battery.
The Full Price: Success is the only thing that never goes on sale. As Kipling said: "If you don't get what you want, it's a sign either that you did not seriously want it, or that you tried to bargain over the price.” Stop looking for a discount. Pay the full amount.
Character ROI: Your career is just the medium. The real “product” is the man you become in the struggle. Build a character you actually respect, or the money won’t matter when you unplug.
4. The Kinetic Edge (Execution)
Speed is the only advantage that matters in a simulation. The wise man does immediately what the fool does at the end.
Seek the Kick in the Face: Growth doesn’t happen in the sun; it happens in the friction. If it isn’t hard, it isn’t worth doing. Seek the struggle, it’s the only thing that proves you’re alive.
Decision Velocity: Do I have the info? If yes, decide. If no, get it. Close the decision loops faster than the competition.
Find Your Hammer: Stop trying to be a Swiss Army knife. Find your specific “anomaly”, your edge—and hone it until you are the only solution the world can’t ignore.
5. The Source Code (Legacy & Family)
Sovereignty isn’t just about the bank account; it’s about the soul. You are the anchor of your ecosystem. Your presence is the foundation.
The DNA Mirror: Your children don’t listen to your advice; they reflect your habits. If you don’t like the projection, check your own code first.
The Strategic Partner: Your wife is your longest and most critical game-changer. Protect that peace at all costs. Invest in that relationship.
The Final Permission: You are a creator and a man of value. You deserve the life you are building. Stop sabotaging the mission and finally let yourself win.
